After our time in Gethsemane, we journeyed to the church on the place where Peter denied Christ.
This mosaic on the outside of the church denotes Christ.
This building with the red roof, I believe, is by the place where Caiphas' house was located.
Close up of mosaic
View of Jerusalem.
I believe this image is of the traditional site of the Ascension.
This image is of a convent that is on the place called Gehenna.
Gehenna is referred to in Scripture and was literally the place near Jerusalem where all the trash was placed.
Here is a closeup of the church on the place where Peter denied Christ and atop the church is a rooster.
You just don't see signs like this everyday.
Another mosaic of Christ.
This image shows a Byzantine mosaic from the church built on this same place in the 5th century.
Stained glass in the interior of the church.
This sign led us down the stairs in the church to the guard room and dungeon area.
This sign describes the underground caves where Christ was beaten and flogged.
This cave is the traditional place where Christ was scourged.
Here is that same space. Below, the two holes in the stone indicated Jesus was tied during his scourging.
This sign describes the sacred pit, which is the place believed to be where Jesus was questioned by Caiphas.
We gathered in this cave and read Scripture. Being in this place was overwhelmingly emotional for me.
Matthew 26:57-68 (NRSV)
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered.
58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death,
60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward
61 and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"
62 The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?"
63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.
66 What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death."
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him,
68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?"
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered.
58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death,
60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward
61 and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"
62 The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?"
63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.
66 What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death."
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him,
68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?"
A window looking up from deep within the cave.
A candle glowed on a table as we left the church.
As we walked outside of the church to the courtyard, we were greeted by an incredible sculpture reflecting the moment of Peter's denial. The emotion in the faces of those featured, leaps out to the onlooker.
Matthew 26:69-75 (NRSV)
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."
70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."
71 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72 Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."
73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you."
74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment the cock crowed.
75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."
70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."
71 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72 Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."
73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you."
74 Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment the cock crowed.
75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
In this other view, you can see the rooster atop the pillar and a Roman guard peering around the pillar.
This basin is referred to as an ablution basin and was used to wash before entering the church. I believe this one may have originally been part of the 5th century church on this place. The sign indicates it is the precursor to Holy Water Fonts found in churches today.
The base of the Peter denial statue.
These steps were possibly the same Jesus walked on as he left Caiaphas' house. I never ceased to be amazed at how close I was to the places where Christ actually was during His time on earth.
I would encourage you to click on this image and read what is written below the Scripture. I found those words very powerful.
Luke 22:61-62 (NRSV)
61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times."
62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times."
62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Artwork depicting this moment.
Another image of those steps where Jesus may have walked.
Artwork depicting Jesus' appearance to the disciples in the upper room.
A last view of the rooster.
Our next stop was to an incredible model of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Wow! What an amazing thing to have experienced!
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